Connecting device for mops with dissolving tablet and cleaning fluid dosage devices

ABSTRACT

A connecting device for a mop having a dissolving tablet or cleaning fluid dosing means has a monolithic piece that is substantially concave, and defines a lower opening and an upper opening; the upper opening being smaller than the lower opening. The upper opening of the monolithic piece is adapted to receive the handle of a mop. There is a sub-connecting device for connecting to the head of the mop around the handle of the mop; the sub-connecting device further comprises a lower edge. The monolithic piece has a lower edge with affixing means for detachably attaching to the lower edge of the sub-connecting device, so that the monolithic piece and the sub-connecting device define a cavity between the monolithic piece and the sub-connecting device suitable for holding a dissolving tablet or cleaning fluid dosing means. The monolithic piece has a plurality of openings for allowing an inflow of water into the cavity when the mop is submerged in water and allowing an outflow of water with cleaning solution when the mop is removed from water.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

The application claims the priority of Mexican Patent Application, Serial No. MX/u/2009/000456, filed Nov. 18, 2009, and titled “Dispositivo connector para trapeadores con pastilla soluble y medios de dosificación de fluido de limpieza.”

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure is related to the general cleaning products and accessories industry; particularly, it refers to a connecting device for mops with cleaning fluid retaining and dosage devices for their connection to handles.

2. Background

Up to this date, the multi-purpose cleaners used, for example, to clean floors, are generally presented in liquid form and require dilution in a certain volume of water in order to submerge a mop that is wetted and then applied over the floor. This requires a greater number of steps to prepare the cleaner's dilution in water, sometimes calculating the volumes to be mixed; besides, large spaces are required at home or at the office to store the cleaners and aromatizers that generally are packaged in bottles or other containers.

On the other hand, there are other kinds of solid, water soluble cleaners, commonly known as aromatizing, cleaning or sanitizing tablets. For example, one of the tablets currently on the market is the one known as Intank® for toilets. Such tablets generally have a solid, cake form and they partially dilute with the flow of water on the toilet, or they can also be dropped on the water tank for them to dissolve, and an amount of the cleaner, aromatizer or sanitizer is dosed into the toilet bowl on each flush.

However, up to this point, there are no known products in the market, or for this technique, a multi-purpose cleaner in a solid, soluble base that can be adapted to an innovative dispenser and mounted on handles of the different cleaning devices for dosing each time it is submerged in water by partially dissolving on each submersion.

Already on the registration application for the utility model MX/u/2007/000292, with license number 1940 and dated Nov. 12, 2008, from the same inventor of this application, protection is provided to a multi-purpose cleaner dispenser to be mounted on a cleaning device, like the kind composed by a shell that contains a solid, soluble multi-purpose cleaner and that defines an upper side and a lower side, characterized by a middle cavity on the vertical axis so it can be inserted on the handle of a cleaning device, also including a collection of openings distributed along its upper and lower sides that allow the inflow of water and the outflow of a water-cleaner solution, respectively, in order to wet the cleaning device and clean a surface.

Nevertheless, such device can slide along the mop's handle and it is inconvenient when placing the mop upside down to let it drain and not get the floor dirty with trash and other impurities.

What is needed is a mop system having the ability to affix the connected source of cleaning material into the handle, with the mop's threads, strands or strips, and keeping the device from detaching, becoming separated or lost. Such a system should allow a user to directly apply the cleaner in a single step without the need to dilute cleaning materials, and also avoid the handling of cleaners packaged in bottles or other containers.

SUMMARY

Generally speaking, the connecting device for mops with containing devices for a soluble table and dosing devices for cleaning fluid, pursuant to the present disclosure, comprises a monolithic piece substantially concave that defines a wide circular or elongated lower opening and a narrow circular upper opening; such upper opening is adapted to brace and hold a sub-connecting device that connects the head of the mop where the mop's handle connects to the head of the mop. Such mops are generally made up by a collection of threads, strands, cloth strips or other similar materials. The connecting device includes on its lower opening edge affixing devices that detachably attach to the lower edge of the sub-connecting device, thus generating an internal cavity between the sub-connecting element and the device's monolithic piece. The cavity is adapted to hold a cleaning-aromatizing soluble tablet. Such device also comprises a collection of openings, perforations or other similar shapes, adapted to allow the inflow of water when the mop is submerged in water, and to allow the outflow of a cleaning solution with or without an aromatizer, produced from the tablet and water.

In one of the embodiments, the monolithic piece of such device presents an elliptical shape when viewed from the top, defining its surrounding panels with curved side panels and flat front and back panels; comprising such front and back panels is a collection of openings with the same or a different shape, and the same or different sizes on the mid-upper section, and at least a horizontal opening on the lower section with the same or a different uniform or random distribution to allow mainly the inflow of water or solvent and the partial outflow of a water-cleaner solution, and such side panels comprise horizontal openings on the lower side distributed in a vertical pattern to allow the inflow of water and mainly the outflow of a water-cleaner solution.

In another one of the embodiments, the monolithic piece of such device presents a substantially rectangular upper panel, when viewed from the top, and the front and back panels project in partially curved shape with straight side panels.

When observing such device from the front, the side panels are curved on the upper edge that joins the rectangular upper panel.

Such upper panel comprises at least two openings, one on each side of the upper circular opening, adapted for the inflow of water.

Such front and back panels comprise a collection of perforations with a uniform or random distribution in order to allow the outflow of a water-cleaner solution once water has flowed in and the cleaning tablet has partially dissolved.

Such collection of perforations preferably comprises holes in a stylized bead shape combined with circular holes alternating with each other in a circular pattern. Additionally, it can comprise circular holes in a horizontal pattern on the lower section.

In any of the described modalities, such affixing devices on the lower opening edge of the monolithic piece comprises curved flaps and lips running to the middle of the piece or perpendicular lips on the panel and projected towards the middle, adapted to freely attach on the lower edge of the sub-connecting device on the mop.

The connecting device can be detached from the mop's sub-connecting device in order to insert a replacement tablet.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices for one of the embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of the connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the embodiment of the connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows a side view for of the embodiment of the device shown on FIGS. 1 to 3, to be adapted to a sub-connecting device on a mop.

FIG. 4 a shows a section of the device presented on FIGS. 1 to 4 adapted on a mop's sub-connecting device.

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of the connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices, shown on the Figures above, inserted on the mop's handle.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of the connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices, connected to a mop's sub-connecting device, already in use.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of an embodiment of the connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices, for another embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the device shown on FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a section of the device from FIGS. 7 and 8, adapted to a mop's sub-connecting device.

FIG. 10 shows the embodiment of the connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices, shown on FIGS. 7 to 9, inserted on the mop's handle.

FIG. 11 shows a front view of an embodiment of the connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices, connected to the mop's sub-connecting device, already in use.

DESCRIPTION

The characteristic details of the multi-purpose cleaner dispenser to be mounted in a cleaning device are clearly shown on the following description and on the attached illustrative drawings, which are used as a reference to point out such parts.

Referencing FIGS. 1 to 3, which show a front, side and top view of an embodiment of the connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices, is one of the embodiments. In such figures, the mop's connecting device for dosing the cleaning fluid comprises of a monolithic piece 1 with an elliptical shape when viewed from the top (FIG. 3), which defines a wide circular or elongated lower opening 2 and a narrow circular upper opening 3. The upper opening 3 is adapted to receive a mop's handle (not shown) and such wide lower opening 2 is adapted to brace and hold a connecting device (not shown) that connects the mop's handle to its head (see FIGS. 4 and 5) made up by a collection of threads, strands or other similar elements; such single piece defines a surrounding panel 4 that comprises curved lateral panels 5 and flat front and back panels 6. The front and back panels (5, 6) comprise a collection of elongated openings 7 in a vertical pattern on the mid-upper section and at least a horizontal opening 8 on the lower section; additionally, there is a curved opening 9 next to the elongated openings 7; such openings allow the inflow of water or solvent and the partial outflow of the water-cleaner solution.

Such side panels 5 comprise a pair of horizontal openings 10 on the lower section distributed in a vertical pattern to allow mainly the inflow of water and the outflow of a water-cleaner solution.

On the edge of the lower opening 2 there are some curved flaps or lips 11 on the side panels, and on the front and back panels as well 6, adapted to freely attach to the lower edge of such connecting device on the mop (not shown).

Referencing FIGS. 4 to 6, it can be seen that the device's monolithic piece 1 comprises on the lower opening's edge 2 the curved flaps or lips 11 on the side panels 5 and on the front and back panels as well 6, adapted to freely attach to the lower edge 12 of a mop's 14 sub-connecting device 13; such sub-connecting device allows for the attachment of the handle 15 to the head 16 of the mop 14.

The device is inserted on the mop's 14 handle 15 through the narrow upper opening 3 and the curved flaps or lips 11 on the side panels 5, and the front and back panels 6 as well, firmly affixed to the lower edge 12 of the sub-connecting device 13.

Referencing FIGS. 4, 4 a and 6, between such sub-connecting device 13 and the device's monolithic piece 1, there is a resulting cavity adapted to receive a soluble tablet (not shown) of a cleaner-aromatizer.

When the mop is submerged in water, and then pulled out to mop a given surface, the cleaning solution resulting from the tablet and water, with or without aromatizer, flows out through the opening for dosing to the mop's 14 head 16.

Referencing FIG. 8, where one of the other device's modalities is shown, the monolithic piece 1 of such device seen from the top presents an upper rectangular panel 17 (see FIG. 8) projecting downwards the partially curved front and back panels 6 and the straight side panels 5.

Such upper panel 17 comprises at least two openings 18, one on each side of the upper circular opening 3, which are adapted for the inflow of water.

Referencing FIGS. 7 and 9, when the monolithic piece 1 is seen from the front, one can observe that the side panels 5 are curved on the upper edge that joins the upper rectangular panel 17.

Such panels, front and back 6, comprise a collection of perforations preferably uniformly distributed to allow the inflow of water and the outflow of a water-cleaner solution once water has flowed in and the cleaning tablet has partially dissolved.

Such collection of perforations preferably comprise holes in a stylized bead shape 19 combined with circular holes 20, alternating with each other in a circular pattern. Additionally, it can comprise circular holes 20 a in a horizontal pattern on the lower section.

It can also be observed in FIGS. 7 and 9 that the device comprises on the edge of the lower opening 2 the curved flaps or lips 11 on the side panels 5, and the front and back panels 6 as well, and are adapted to freely attach to the lower edge 12 of a mop's sub-connecting device 13.

Referencing FIGS. 10 and 11, the device is inserted on the mop's 14 handle 15 through the narrow upper handle 3 and the curved flaps or lips 11 on the side panels 5, and the front and back panels 6 as well, firmly affixed to the lower edge 12 of the sub-connecting device 13.

Referencing FIGS. 7 and 9, between such sub-connecting device 13 and the device's monolithic piece 1, there is a resulting cavity adapted to receive a soluble tablet (not shown) of a cleaner-aromatizer.

When the mop is submerged in water, and then pulled out to mop a given surface, the cleaning solution resulting from the tablet and water, with or without aromatizer, flows out through the opening for dosing to the mop's 14 head 16. 

1. A connecting device for a mop having a dissolving tablet or cleaning fluid dosing means, comprising: a monolithic piece that is substantially concave; the monolithic piece defining an lower opening and an upper opening; the upper opening being smaller than the lower opening; the upper opening of the monolithic piece adapted to receive the handle of a mop; a sub-connecting device for connecting to the head of the mop around the handle of the mop; the sub-connecting device further comprising a lower edge; the monolithic piece having a lower edge; the lower edge of the monolithic piece having affixing means for detachable attaching to the lower edge of the sub-connecting device, so that the monolithic piece and the sub-connecting device define a cavity between the monolithic piece and the sub-connecting device suitable for holding a dissolving tablet or cleaning fluid dosing means; the monolithic piece having a plurality of openings for allowing an inflow of water into the cavity when the mop is submerged in water and allowing an outflow of water with cleaning solution when the mop is removed from water.
 2. The connecting device for a mop having a dissolving tablet or cleaning fluid dosing means of claim 1, where: the monolithic piece has an elliptical shape when viewed from the top; the monolithic piece having surrounding panels with curved sides, and flat front and back panels; and, the plurality of openings further comprises at least one horizontal opening.
 3. The connecting device for a mop having a dissolving tablet or cleaning fluid dosing means of claim 2, where: the side panels on the monolithic piece form an elliptical shape when viewed from the top; and, horizontal openings distributed in a vertical pattern.
 4. The connecting device for a mop having a dissolving tablet or cleaning fluid dosing means of claim 1, where: the monolithic piece has a substantially rectangular upper panel when viewed from the top, and the front and back panels project in a partially curved shape with straight side panels.
 5. The connecting device for a mop having a dissolving tablet or cleaning fluid dosing means of claim 4, where: the side panels are curved on the upper edge that joins the rectangular upper panel, when viewing the monolithic piece from the front.
 6. The connecting device for a mop having a dissolving tablet or cleaning fluid dosing means of claim 4, where: the upper panel comprises at least two openings, one on each side of the upper circular opening, adapted for the inflow of water.
 7. The connecting device for a mop having a dissolving tablet or cleaning fluid dosing means of claim 4, where: the front and back panels comprise a collection of perforations adapted to allow the outflow of a water-cleaner solution once water has flowed in and the cleaning tablet has partially dissolved.
 8. The connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices, pursuant to claim 7, where: the collection of perforations comprises holes in a stylized bead shape combined with circular holes, alternating with each other in a circular pattern.
 9. The connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices, pursuant to claims 7 and 8, further comprising: additionally, it can comprise circular perforations in a horizontal pattern on the lower section.
 10. The connecting device for mops with a soluble tablet and cleaning fluid dosing devices, pursuant to any of the above claims, where: the affixing devices on the lower opening edge of the monolithic piece, comprises curved flaps or lips running to the middle of the piece or perpendicular lips on the panel and projected towards the middle, adapted to freely attach on the lower edge of the connection device on the mop. 